BCCI Investigates Rajasthan Royals Manager Over Phone Use During Match

The Board of Control for Cricket in India is looking into a rule break by Rajasthan Royals manager Romi Bhinder. He may have broken Indian Premier League rules by using a mobile phone in a restricted area during a match, which is not allowed. On April 10, Romi was seen using a mobile phone in the dugout area while sitting next to Vaibhav Suryavanshi.

As stated by the IPL protocols, there is a ban on the possession/use of mobile devices in the PMOA except for certain persons to have access as outlined above. e.g., team managers and physicians. Sarfaraz Ahmed, who was the mentor/manager of the Pakistan U19 cricket team, previously had a similar incident when he was seen using his mobile phone within the defined restrict area of the PMOA. This is a violation of the rules.

BCCI Investigates Romi Bhinder Over Dugout Phone Use in IPL

According to International Cricket Council rules, Sarfaraz Ahmed can use a phone in the PMOA area if it is for cricket-related work. But in the Indian Premier League, the rules are stricter, and phone use in that area is generally not allowed. BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia has addressed the allegations that Bhinder breached IPL rules. The administrator stated that the BCCI will analyse the footage to see if the RR manager did anything wrong. BCCI’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) has strict controls to prevent unauthorised communication.

“First of all, I would like to say that having the mobile with him is permissible under the regulations because he is the manager. So, managers and doctors are allowed to carry a mobile in the PMOA. That is number one. Second, whether he has violated any protocol or regulations under our existing IPL rules and regulations. We are trying to verify it, and we have started the process,” Saikia told Hindustan Times Digital.

“So, if anything is found to be negative, we will take action. Otherwise, having the mobile with him, there is no violation of any other regulations. That is my stand at the first stage. But we are trying to find out whether he is carrying the mobile in the designated area or beyond that. That we are trying to find out. The exercise has already started,” he added.